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Hi everyone, hope you’re all doing well. I’m the happy new owner of a model 94 found in a pawn shop. I’m having trouble identifying its variant and could use some help.
The serial is 1090901 (a palindrome I thought was neat), one source says is a 1933, another source says 34. However, the 3/4 cartridge tube is throwing me for a loop. The barrel measures 21 3/4” which I know is not a standard length provided. What I think happened (and please correct me if I’m wrong) is that it had a 22” barrel that became damaged, so the owner had the first 1/4” cut off. This would also account for the front dovetail being 1/2” from the front face of the barrel and not the 0.75”.
If anyone could provide insight or history about this rifle I would be very appreciative. Very interested in the history of these rifles.
Also, with the possibility of the barrel already having been damaged, would the modification of adding an optic have any impact on its value? Is the possibility of an originally 22” custom?
Online
Sean,
Your Model 94 is a “Sporting Rifle” and it was manufactured in June of 1933. Unfortunately, somebody whacked (cut) 4.25″ off of the muzzle end of the barrel, and then cut the magazine tube down even more. Originally, it was manufactured with a 26-inch barrel and a full length magazine tube. In order to fully remove the rotary cut dovetail on the bottom of the barrel (for the magazine tube retaining ring), the barrel has to be shortened by almost precisely the missing 4.25″ on your barrel. By removing the rotary cut dovetail for the magazine tube ring, the magazine has to also be shortened.
In addition to the cut down barrel and magazine tube, it appears that somebody mounted an after market peep sight on the left side of the receiver frame. Any further modifications that you make to this rifle will not affect its current value in the collector market (which is unfortunately almost zero $). The only remaining value it has is as a “shooter” grade gun.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Oh no! That’s sad to hear that it’s been mutilated. Fortunately I bought it just to shoot and will take care of it best I can. I was aware of the aftermarket peep sight but it is missing it’s aperture so aiming is more like a suggestion and will be lucky to hit the side of a barn.
If that much was cut off, did they cut a new dovetail for the front sight or is that a factory dovetail?
What is the goal of removing the rotary cut dovetail on the bottom of the barrel?
Thank you for the info Bert
Sean Law said I was aware of the aftermarket peep sight but it is missing it’s aperture so aiming is more like a suggestion and will be lucky to hit the side of a barn.
If it’s a Lyman rcvr sight, aperture disks for them show up on ebay all the time. Forgetting its effect on value, I think the mutilation makes it a better looking rifle than the plain-Jane ’94. The slot on the bottom of the brl was removed to make the brl amputation less obvious, & a new slot was cut for the front sight.
Sean Law said
Oh no! That’s sad to hear that it’s been mutilated. Fortunately I bought it just to shoot and will take care of it best I can. I was aware of the aftermarket peep sight but it is missing it’s aperture so aiming is more like a suggestion and will be lucky to hit the side of a barn.If that much was cut off, did they cut a new dovetail for the front sight or is that a factory dovetail?
What is the goal of removing the rotary cut dovetail on the bottom of the barrel?
Thank you for the info Bert
Yes, a new dovetail was cut to remount the front sight, and as usual, it was positioned too close to the muzzle. The “goal” for removing the rotary cut dovetail on the bottom of the barrel is to try hiding the fact that the barrel and magazine tube were shortened, and make people believe that the short barrel is original.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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clarence said
Sean Law said I was aware of the aftermarket peep sight but it is missing it’s aperture so aiming is more like a suggestion and will be lucky to hit the side of a barn.
If it’s a Lyman rcvr sight, aperture disks for them show up on ebay all the time. Forgetting its effect on value, I think the mutilation makes it a better looking rifle than the plain-Jane ’94. The slot on the bottom of the brl was removed to make the brl amputation less obvious, & a new slot was cut for the front sight.
Looks like a nice enough shooter to me as well. The missing aperture is only an issue if you desire to do precision shooting under good lighting conditions. Many apertures were removed to give a better and quicker sight picture under low light hunting conditions, a modification that quite likely inspired the “ghost ring” sights of later years.
Mike
I would bet it has an excellent carry-balance! Looks cool and should serve you well. RDB
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